Taking firearm to Canada

[Finprof]

I will be in Saskatchewan in November. The flight is Newark to Toronto to Saskatoon. I presume that customs in Toronto. How long should it take to take a firearm through customs. It would be good to know the necessary layover between flights. I presume that there is not an agency to help for Canada. I used Gracy for travel to Zimbabwe and was well pleased.
Thanks.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I suggest you have 3-4 hours. Make sure you do all the pre-arrival work and also have a good Form 4457 to bring your rifle back into the US.

Thread 'Flying to Canada from the US with a rifle'

Feb 18, 2016

Just received a revised flight itinerary from United and it's ugly. Before I get on the phone with them and try to come up with a better plan, was seeking some advice. I have a Dall Sheep hunt in August.

Connection time in Vancouver?

I will fly into Vancouver from the US and then onto Whitehorse, Yukon. I guess I clear customs in Vancouver and whatever clearance for my rifle.

Is 2 hours enough time between flights or is theat cutting it too close?

Thanks,
Dave

• 375 Ruger Fan
• Replies: 32
• Forum: Before & after the hunt

• 

 

[Flipper Dude]

Flew into BC last year with a rifle. Easy peasy. Was my one and only experience, so take that for what it’s worth. I had been told by people that should know that there was nothing to it, and there wasn’t.

 

[MacJenkins]

I've only flown into Saskatoon once in October with Firearms. Probably 1/3-1/2 of the plane was hunters. Took about two hours to get through. I was at the back of the line. November I would think is better as the migration through there is ususally over.

 

[Scott CWO]

I’m headed to Nunavut in a month. Denver to Ottawa and then spending the night before another flight the next morning. I don’t have a same day connection so I’m guessing it will be no big deal? I have done the firearm forms before. However, on my way back I have an hour and 45 minutes between connecting from Ottawa to Denver. Is that enough?

 

[JimP]

As is everywhere a lot will depend on the customs agent that you get for your firearm inspection.

I drove across at the Roosville border crossing north of Eureka Montana. The agent there was looking for something and tore everything out of the inside of my cab on my truck. It was raining so I had my rifle behind the seat in a case and told him so. 4 hours later he finally approved my entrance into Canada. A friend who flew in through Calgary had a piece of cake coming into Canada, they waved him through once he paid the firearm permit fee. But going back he ended up leaving his rifle in Calgary due to a question on the serial number. His rifle was a totally custom job with the only thing being factory was the receiver. It took him two months to get his rifle back from Canada and this was on his way out with a proper 4457 for the US side. .

 

[TMac]

Not sure how much of this applies to flying, but here it goes. My last trip into Canada, driving, we stopped at US customs to declare the rifles on a 4457. They inspected the rifles and ran the serial numbers. Then we stopped on the Canadian side, all they wanted was to see the filled out and approved 4457 then had us sign the Canadian form and off we went.

30min US side, 10 min Canadian side. I’ve also endured a 2 hour full vehicle search on the Canadian side. So I suspect it depends on who you get, if you’re randomly selected for a full search, and how busy they are.

 

[Finprof]

I've only flown into Saskatoon once in October with Firearms. Probably 1/3-1/2 of the plane was hunters. Took about two hours to get through. I was at the back of the line. November I would think is better as the migration through there is ususally over.

Was Saskatoon your first stop in Canada. I thought that custom ms would be at the first stop, which in my case is Toronto.

 

[MacJenkins]

Was Saskatoon your first stop in Canada. I thought that custom ms would be at the first stop, which in my case is Toronto.

Yes it was.

 

[Ray B]

Appears things have changed. In 1972 my brother-in-law and I drove my Porsche from Portland,OR to Circle, AK. I had a Rem 700 .308 and a few boxes of ammo. I don't recall filling out any forms for either Canada or US. going into BC was about a 3 minute pass-through. going from the Yukon into AK, I think the office though we wee smuggling dope because he literally took apart everything he could, threw it all over the ground, then when he found a baggie that I had some tea he almost jumped for joy until he figured out it was tea. I stayed on in AK, rafting down the Yukon while B-I-L drove the car back. No issues at the borders, but I had the rifle with me and when I flew back it was direct from Fairbanks to Seattle to Portland. But this was before the DB Cooper changes.

 

[Sabre]

It will 100% randomly depend on the border patrol agent you get. I always try my best to have a 3 hour layover for connecting flights in larger airports or where I will have to go through customs, or switch from international to domestic.

It's not always doable, but I have found it best to aim for that.

I have had border patrol ask me if everything was correct and physically check nothing and have had them go through almost every item. Most annoying is when they are fumbling with your gun over concrete and clearly don't know how to handle firearms with care.

Oddly, I have never gotten a 4457 for Canada. They have never asked for it when going into the country because they are interested in their firearm license. And I have never had a US border agent ask about it on my return. I never even really saw or heard anyone talking about needing it for Canada until this year, and I feel like I am hearing it constantly this year. So, when I go up this time, I will have a 4457 with me just in case.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Toronto is a busy airport and I prefer to avoid it at all costs. Sadly, you likely won't be able to.
Delays can certainly happen there and do.
As noted already, leave yourself some time. How much, depends on the day.

The firearms side is simple. Fill in a form and pay your money.
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/iefw-iefa-eng.html#a02

Enjoy your hunt and good luck.

 

[lhook7]

As is everywhere a lot will depend on the customs agent that you get for your firearm inspection.

I drove across at the Roosville border crossing north of Eureka Montana. The agent there was looking for something and tore everything out of the inside of my cab on my truck. It was raining so I had my rifle behind the seat in a case and told him so. 4 hours later he finally approved my entrance into Canada. A friend who flew in through Calgary had a piece of cake coming into Canada, they waved him through once he paid the firearm permit fee. But going back he ended up leaving his rifle in Calgary due to a question on the serial number. His rifle was a totally custom job with the only thing being factory was the receiver. It took him two months to get his rifle back from Canada and this was on his way out with a proper 4457 for the US side. .

I had a very similar experience at the same crossings about 10 years ago. I have not hunted Canada since for that reason.

 

[Tex .416]

I will be in Saskatchewan in November. The flight is Newark to Toronto to Saskatoon. I presume that customs in Toronto. How long should it take to take a firearm through customs. It would be good to know the necessary layover between flights. I presume that there is not an agency to help for Canada. I used Gracy for travel to Zimbabwe and was well pleased.
Thanks.

I hunted Saskatchewan, but went into Calgary and then onto Saskatoon. The Canadian customs agents were pleasant and a painless experience other than confusion about whether the ammo box needed to be in the rifle case or my luggage. They had a discussion among themselves with the airline rep until someone finally told the airline rep how things were going to be and then sent me on my way. They could not have been any friendlier or easier to deal with, absolute shining role models of hospitality.

Going through Newark with a gun may be a bigger issue than Canada.

I came back into the US through Minneapolis and it was the single worst travel experience of my life having traveled to four continents including being caught in a riot in Brazil. The US Customs agent would have been fired by the Stazi for being such a raging jackass on some big power trip.

Apparently he thought a Rem 700 .30-06 in a fiberglass B&C stock was a huge red flag. It actually made me ashamed to think this jackass goon with a chip on his shoulder represented my country. I wondered how he was treating foreign visitors. I chalk it up to be a leftist state influence.

fyi - I watched Canadian customs refuse entry to a hunter due to having a DWI. So if you have that in your background, check it out in advance.

fyi 2 - hunting Saskatchewan in November can be brutally cold. Be prepared. Most days it was around 0F to 15F max, which was cold, but tolerable. However two days it was -25F. It was absolutely gruesome and a brutal physical and mental endurance contest. I am glad I did it once, but once was enough as I am a warm to hot weather person.

Have a great trip.

 

[RedTag]

It will 100% randomly depend on the border patrol agent you get. I always try my best to have a 3 hour layover for connecting flights in larger airports or where I will have to go through customs, or switch from international to domestic.

It's not always doable, but I have found it best to aim for that.

I have had border patrol ask me if everything was correct and physically check nothing and have had them go through almost every item. Most annoying is when they are fumbling with your gun over concrete and clearly don't know how to handle firearms with care.

Oddly, I have never gotten a 4457 for Canada. They have never asked for it when going into the country because they are interested in their firearm license. And I have never had a US border agent ask about it on my return. I never even really saw or heard anyone talking about needing it for Canada until this year, and I feel like I am hearing it constantly this year. So, when I go up this time, I will have a 4457 with me just in case.

Same here. I’ve traveled through Canada (by land) many times with firearms (including restricted firearms) and only filled out the form 4457 once, that was the first time nearly two decades ago. The US Customs agent said it wasn’t really necessary as the Canadian non resident firearms declaration would serve as proof the guns were in my possession when leaving the States. This came up on another thread and others pointed out (rightly, I think) that this is a bad idea and that it would be best practice to complete the form 4457 before entering any foreign country. I will be filling out the form on future trips, just in case. My experience with US Customs has been pretty consistent: they are trying to keep BS out of America and none of us is a special case. On the Canadian side, my experience has varied dramatically, from many a simple wave through with a “have a nice day”, to an hours long search of the vehicle because of a Swiss Army knife in the console. I feel like the Canadians have become colder towards Americans in recent years. Wonder why…

 

[Finprof]

I hunted Saskatchewan, but went into Calgary and then onto Saskatoon. The Canadian customs agents were pleasant and a painless experience other than confusion about whether the ammo box needed to be in the rifle case or my luggage. They had a discussion among themselves with the airline rep until someone finally told the airline rep how things were going to be and then sent me on my way. They could not have been any friendlier or easier to deal with, absolute shining role models of hospitality.

Going through Newark with a gun may be a bigger issue than Canada.

I came back into the US through Minneapolis and it was the single worst travel experience of my life having traveled to four continents including being caught in a riot in Brazil. The US Customs agent would have been fired by the Stazi for being such a raging jackass on some big power trip.

Apparently he thought a Rem 700 .30-06 in a fiberglass B&C stock was a huge red flag. It actually made me ashamed to think this jackass goon with a chip on his shoulder represented my country. I wondered how he was treating foreign visitors. I chalk it up to be a leftist state influence.

fyi - I watched Canadian customs refuse entry to a hunter due to having a DWI. So if you have that in your background, check it out in advance.

fyi 2 - hunting Saskatchewan in November can be brutally cold. Be prepared. Most days it was around 0F to 15F max, which was cold, but tolerable. However two days it was -25F. It was absolutely gruesome and a brutal physical and mental endurance contest. I am glad I did it once, but once was enough as I am a warm to hot weather person.

Have a great trip.

Thanks. I have gone through Newark before when taking Newark to Johannesburg. The hard part was finding the place to check a gun. It was only with the unaccompanied children station but the agent was familiar with the process.
I was born in Northern Ontario north of Lake Superior and can deal with cold weather. Thanks for the warning, though. Maybe I am not as tough as I used to be.

DWIs and other infractions are something I managed to avoid.

 

[Daryl S]

NEVER/EVER try to bring a handgun into Canada. Some USA folks driving over the border into Canada seem to forget this or a gun in the glove box. Don't do it. The border guards up here will not allow it/them in.
If driving up to Alaska, the used to be allowed if zip-tied, but not any more, I think, since the OIC declaring them all prohibited for sale, procurement or transfer. Those of us with handguns are grandfathered to own and use at ranges - those with permits to carry also do so legally.

 

[leslie hetrick]

no trouble with hunting, but a fishing trip was pure hell. we trailered a boat with three out boards and fishing equipment in the boat. out cabin came with two boats and going in and comming out they went thru everything. finding nothing illegal they walked away leaving every thing laying on the ground and i mean everything. so screw canada, not another dollar ever from me.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Preamble: I LOVE Canada (the land, the nature, and most of its people!) My parents just LOVED to vacation there when we were young (and even at the time it wasn't so rosy due to battling between the Oaks and the Maples, but a few Frenchies thought my Dad was from OC so they gave him grief. He understood, shrugged it off and laughed!! He asked where the bathroom was in like 12 different languages (and thinking he was from OC, they'd rather see him P his pants, and acted like they didn't habla. I was right there, LMAO!
Anyway, to your point...I have flown through CN many times. The ONLY time I had any issues was with fancy electronics for work (a multi-gas/vapor detector)...they thought it was an explosive device and detained myself and a co-worker (at YYZ) for 2.5 hrs, and in the end knew we weren't too enthused, so they said a $150 cash fine would let us go (I had a cleanup job at an old factory in Ajax.) Son/I drove across the border from AK into BC (NO issues) and then down across from MB into ND (NO issues.) This was 2023. At that time, there's a form for temp. import of long guns (for hunting or traveling from AK to the L. 48)-that one had the option of getting pre-approval or handing it to 'em on the spot(s) at the border, and it was no problemo. They also allowed handguns (for self-defense against bears) on drives from AK through CN or vice-versa, but for that one, it had to be sent in prior (2 mos. ahead) but it was also legal to do. Now, onto reality...the people at the remote wilderness borders, most of 'em love it there (including hunting) and they GET it. The OC/QC folks...most of them DO NOT, but many just do their job and try not to give the country a blacker eye than it already has, politically in the urban areas. You will have zero issues W. of OC and E. of QC, as they are ALL hunters/fishermen! GL. (Hunting is an industry in CN, so they do have procedures/paperwork. IF you dot your i's and cross your t's in this regard, AND declare to US Customs in/out you'll have no issues. Don't wear camo, shower and don't be a dick. Being NICE to these people is 90% of the drill and even I know how to do that!

 

[C.W. Richter]

This was IT the last time I went through CN (seems to be the same today):

• Determine Firearm Status:
  • Non-Restricted: Most ordinary hunting rifles and shotguns (with a barrel length over 18 inches and not modified) are in this category and are the easiest to bring.
  • Restricted: This primarily includes handguns (with a barrel length of 4.1 inches or more and not in a prohibited caliber like .25 or .32). Bringing a restricted firearm requires an Authorization to Transport (ATT) permit obtained in advance from a Provincial Chief Firearms Officer.
  • Prohibited: Fully automatic weapons, converted automatics, certain military-style weapons (including AR-15s), and handguns with a barrel length less than 4.1 inches are prohibited and cannot be brought into Canada.
• Obtain Necessary Forms:
  • Fill out the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration (Form RCMP 5589) in advance, but do not sign it until you are in front of a Canadian border services officer. The fee for this declaration is a flat CAN$25.00, regardless of the number of firearms.
  • If you have a restricted firearm, call the Canadian Firearms Program well in advance to request an ATT application. This process may take 5-10 business days.
• Register with U.S. Customs: Before leaving the U.S., you should register your firearms with U.S. Customs and Border Protection using Form 4457 to prove you owned them before leaving the U.S. and avoid issues upon re-entry to the U.S. from Canada.
  Alaska Gun Shipping +9

At the Border and in Transit

• Declare Everything: You must declare all firearms and ammunition to the Canadian border officer immediately upon arrival. Failure to declare is a serious offense.
• Transportation Rules: Firearms must be transported unloaded. They should be in a locked case or the vehicle's trunk, out of sight. A trigger lock or cable lock should also be used.
• Ammunition Limits: You are generally allowed to bring 200 rounds of ammunition for hunting or sporting use. Ammunition must be securely packaged and stored separately from the firearm.
• Transit Time: You will typically be given a limited time (often 7 days) to transit through Canada to Alaska with restricted firearms.
  
  
  Canada.ca +6

Alternative Option
If the process seems too complex or your firearms are prohibited in Canada, the simplest option is to ship your firearms via a private carrier (like FedEx or UPS) to an FFL (Federal Firearms License) dealer in Alaska, or use the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry, bypassing the land border entirely.

Reddit +2

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